History resumes

E.J. Dionne asserts that “the outcome of this year’s election means that 2009 will, finally, mark the beginning of the 21st century.” The 21st century did not begin after 9/11, Dionne sniffs, because President Bush “resolutely forced events into the interpretive boxes fashioned in the previous decade.” Let’s give Dionne the benefit of the doubt and construe this fancy locution to mean that Bush dealt with the terrorists severely enough to prevent them from changing history.

It must be nice to know in advance when history is about to change course. It may even be possible to figure this out. But if so, it surely takes someone much smarter and more visionary than E.J. Dionne.

As for me, I’m just hoping that the 21st century didn’t begin this year with our economic woes.